Bayern Munich claimed two Bundesliga records on Friday as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben scored in a 2-1 comeback win at FSV Mainz 05 that left die Roten 14 points clear.
Pep Guardiola’s Bayern have conceded only four goals for the first half of the season to break their joint record of seven from the 2012-2013 season, which had matched VfB Stuttgart’s previous best mark in the 2003-2004 campaign.
With 14 wins from 17 league matches and three draws, unbeaten Bayern have taken 45 from a possible 51 points to break the record of 44 points they set at the same stage last season when they won the title with a record seven matches to spare.
Photo: AFP
“Of course, we are really happy with the win, but I do feel sorry for Mainz, they left everything out on the pitch and had deserved a point,” said Robben, who scored the 89th-minute winner and claimed his 101st goal for the Bavarian club.
“We didn’t do so well in the first half and left a lot of holes in midfield, but compliments to the team for getting the win, which wasn’t easy,” the Dutchman added.
With the Bundesliga set to pause for winter today, Bayern will finish the year at least 11 points clear and are on course to break more records next year.
The Bavarian giants claimed 25 league records last year, when they won the treble of European, league and German Cup titles — the first German team to achieve the feat.
On Friday, Elkin Soto’s stunning first-half goal gave Mainz a shock lead, but his effort was canceled out by Schweinsteiger before Robben’s late winner.
Despite the result, this was a below-par display from injury-hit Bayern, who are on course to claim a third straight Bundesliga title.
With center-back Mehdi Benatia ruled out with the groin strain he suffered in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over SC Freiburg, Guardiola started Jerome Boateng and Dante in his back four.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 19, who has said he wants to leave next month to get more game time, was given a rare start alongside Schweinsteiger in the defensive midfield.
Bayern’s defense was breached when Japan striker Shinji Okazaki freed Soto and the Colombia midfielder fired through Manuel Neuer’s legs on 21 minutes.
The Germany shot-stopper but the lead lasted all of three minutes, before Schweinsteiger curled home a superb free-kick for his first goal of the season.
Mainz had chances in the second half, but Bayern claimed the three points after a strong run from Franck Ribery saw the ball squared for Robben to tap home on 89 minutes.
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